Strike shuts Jerusalem light rail indefinitely

The Jerusalem light rail began operations just two months ago.

Just two months after the launch, a strike shut down the Jerusalem light railway indefinitely. Although the strike was without warning, it is legal since employees declared a labor dispute some time ago.

The Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) unionized the Jerusalem light railway employees earlier this year. The employees are protesting the deadlocked negotiations with Connex Israel Ltd., the rail operator on behalf of franchisee CityPass. The employees are demanding a collective labor contract that will give them job security and improved employment terms.

Connex Israel VP Tomer Bass said, "Today's strike, which was declared without advanced notice, not to mention during the Sukkot holiday, is an act of thuggery toward the public in Jerusalem. There is no justification for a strike by the company's workers, and we view this act seriously. I expect Histadrut representatives to act responsibly toward the workers and the light railway's passengers, and to reverse this astonishing decision."